Logrod

Out of interest what causes the woodruff key to go in the first place?

The 45 p a mile is what you are allowed for tax purposes, what you charge a client doesn't need to be the same and can be more or less (but having said that 45p a mile is quite common with most of the big corporates I work with)

If I take one or two adults or kids to a climbing wall they will get me to sign a piece of paper saying i know how to put on a harness, belay etc. There may even be a random check that I can do a specific knot or identify the things that shouldn't be happening in a couple of pictures . Once that's over they have demonstrated sufficient duty of care to the authorities and their insurance company and I can take the people climbing and even get them to belay me. If I take more than two most centres expect me to have an SPA (single pitch award) though this in reality only assesses that I have experience at climbing and leading outdoors, not that I am capable of managing 6 squabbling children and how many eyes I have in the back of my head. In the end your risks are low but it's your insurance company that needs to be convinced so ask them. In terms of the grillon not being certified as a belay device as it hasn't had the same load testing this is true but tbh irrelevant as in the situation you describe (top roping a child and then lowering them) you would be hard pushed to load test a large paper clip let alone a belay device. (but use a proper one anyway!)

If you're just cutting for yourself then it also depends how you're planning on planing the timber later. I tend to rip mine into 26cm widths since that's what I can plane on my planer thicknesser if I had a wider planer then I'd find I was losing more thickness from cupping

Can you tell me more about the attachment Mark? Where did you get it?

For what it's worth I find pyrography easier to do lettering with than a dremel as the iron doesn't want to whizz off on it's own.

Still need to find reliable subbies - if you're using other people whether as employees or subcontractors you still need to do the quality assurance and quality control - don't assume that using subbies will reduce that part of the work

I've never used an alaskan mill (yet) but it looked to me as if you could have done with more than one screw into the trunk through each support to limit the movement of the frame. I really like the idea though - very portable and didn't seem to show any lengthways flex

Are there any restrictions on when you can burn?

A scroll saw sounds the better option to me as well. Also a small band saw can be a real disappointment particularly if you want to use it to cut straight edges and you would probably find yourself wanting to upgrade, whereas a scrollsaw is well a scrollsaw

Doesn't hold very many does it?

and of course the US has no subsidies, trade tariffs or anything else that distorts the market place does it?

Farmers have always complained as has been said, but I'm not convinced that the milk production costs have factored in the generous subsidies for "environmental" or other. If farmers were truly in trouble they would be queuing up to get out of the business and the price of farmland would be falling sharply - I've only ever seen it go up, which suggests that both the farmers and the banks reckon that it's a profitable business overall. I'm sure some of the smaller ones struggle but that's true in most industries.

That's the trouble with getting family to do the job:)

If you want Paul I can give him a ring and see if I can get any more info?

My nephew did an arb apprenticeship recently and he transferred from the company he had started with to self employed part way through the training/apprenticeship. He's only just finished the apprenticeship and won't have had to put in a tax return yet so I don't know if he will get grief from the inland revenue but I was surprised that a) he'd had to do it / been encouraged to and b) been able to. I personally think it's a really bad idea for him as he's not business minded and would have suggested that he stick with an employer if at all possible (for what it's worth I'm self employed in a different line of business but a tad older ofc!) but I only found out after the event.

Yep I should have said I meant roughing gouge for the outside, I use a half inch bowl gouge for the interior

I always start with a roughing gouge (but I'm an amateur and that may explain the quality of my work!)

I'm a definite fan of bodges but think I should point out that the original switch was probably a no volts return switch which means that if the current to the machine was cut off (power cut, someone kicking the plug etc) that you need to operate the switch again to start the lathe when the power is restored. With a normal light switch when the power comes back on the lathe would start turning whether you were there or not. Not saying don't do it, just think if that is something you are happy with. (you can buy them for about 10-15 squid from axminster/ rs components etc)

Yep mine was Abe books

£3-80 +p&p? Or have you found it cheaper on another website? Intrigued as to which websites you're referring now:)

Did you clean out the tank and pipes before switching? I believe they don't mix well

One of my biggest issues with the native woodland debate is that it seems to be a King Canute approach hold back the tide. We live in a time of accelerating environmental change both from climate change and increasing mobility of pathogens through global trade - these things aren't going to change however many people stick (economically and environmentally inefficient) solar panels on their roof. It makes sense therefore to broaden the range of trees in our woods and forests - what was successful 300 years ago isn't necessarily going to be successful in the next 100 years - too much "native woodland" could just see us with huge swathes of dead forest in 100 years time.

I like the idea in principle but can't honestly see it working other than a group of good friends due to the issues around breakages and maintenance as others have said. I think with some kit you want to be sure you know 100% what has happened to it (even if it's you that has been abusing it) - I wouldn't ever lend out one of my climbing ropes (rock or tree) or one of my chainsaws but lots of other tools I would.

I'm surprised there is internet available anywhere in Somerset tbh